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But for every individual honoured with a Hall pass, there are many that person played with and against who are left behind, waiting for a call from the Hall of Fame selection committee.

And it’s often a fine line that separates those who get selected and those who do not.

“Look around here,” said McCreary, standing in the Great Hall, surrounded by his fellow inductees and the plaques of those who already in. “These gentlemen could think outside the box, that’s what Hall of Famers do.”

YOUR CALL!

So we asked the new inductees who they think should be joining them in the Hall in coming years:

Dominik Hasek

“Martin Brodeur — he will make the Hall of Fame. And Jaromir Jagr, if he ever retires. They will definitely be Hall of Famers.”

Prognosis: No brainers, both of them. First-balloters when the time comes, as they have to be inactive from pro hockey for three straight years.

Jagr is still playing with the Devils. He has won the Stanley Cup twice, the world championship twice and earned an Olympic gold medal. Jagr is sixth on the NHL’s all-time scoring list, and gaining on Marcel Dionne in fifth spot.

Brodeur, an unrestricted free agent, is still hoping to play. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and the NHL’s all-time leader in wins.

Rob Blake

“A lot goes into it with stats and longevity and Cups, but I think of Adam Foote. I don’t know if there are many guys that played as hard as him, the success he had. You hope for guys like that.”

Prognosis: Good luck. Foote was fabulous as a stay-at-home defenceman through the Avalanche’s great Cup runs, and he was internationally recognized as well with a gold medal and World Cup. But Hall of Fame voters look for more flash.

Mike Modano

“Look at Guy Carbonneau — played a long time, won the Selke, won the Stanley Cup. (Eric) Lindros has been on the fence, but his numbers are just as strong as anybody’s and how he performed. J.R. (Jeremy Roenick). I always say if you put (Sergei) Zubov on an Original Six team, he would have won five or six Norris Trophies. He had great numbers . . . won a few Cups.”

Prognosis: Quite the platter. They’ve all been eligible for a while but can’t quite garner enough support.

Carbonneau: Like Foote, a long-shot. He was the prototypical defensive centre, but 663 points in 1,318 games is a tough hill to overcome.

Lindros: Maybe next year. He won the Hart and the Pearson trophies. No Stanley Cup, but did win Olympic gold and two world championships. But he also rubbed the NHL establishment the wrong way. But if Forsberg got in with 885 points in 708 games then so should Lindros, who had 865 points in 760 games. Both were hampered by injury.

Roenick: Just a matter of time. He had1,216 points in 1,363 games through 21 seasons and is 40th on the all-time scoring list. Everyone in that same stratosphere is in the Hall or still playing.

Zubov: He is a long-shot, which is too bad because Modano is right. Zubov is 19th all-time in points by a defencemen (771 in 1,068 games), one slot behind Blake and ahead of Hall of Famers like Mark Howe and Scott Niedermayer. Zubov’s problem may well be that he played in a non-traditional hockey markets.

Peter Forsberg

“I would mention a few Swedes. Think about (Niklas) Lidstrom; he has a good shot. Maybe (Daniel) Alfredsson and Markus Naslund.”

Prognosis: Lidstrom will be a first-balloter this time next year.

Alfredsson: Will get in and Leaf fans will boo.

Naslund: Was eligible for the first time this year but didn’t get in. His chances are somewhat less than Lindros. Naslund had 869 points in 1,117 games. He captained the Vancouver Canucks but won no championships to speak of.

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